Tyson eyes Downton role

Mike Tyson would love to appear in a period drama.

The former heavyweight boxer has turned his hand to movies of late, appearing in The Hangover franchise. He hopes to line up more roles in the future, revealing TV is a medium he would love to move into.

“I would,” he told Shortlist magazine, when asked if he would enjoy acting more. “I’m coming to the West End soon for my one-man show, so maybe when I fly to the UK they’ll give me a part on Downtown [sic] Abbey [laughs]. I like that show. I’m sure they could give me a part.”

The 47-year-old star was quizzed on whether he is planning to watch the UK period drama’s festive edition. He isn’t sure whether that will happen, although he’s open to the idea.

“You never know. I watch Benny Hill, and if you watch Benny Hill, you’ll watch anything,” he said. “We don’t practise the Christmas holiday at my house, but the kids want gifts and trees, so I might have to bend my rules. What am I gonna do, say, ‘No Christmas?’ Come on, be real. So long as the children are happy then I’m happy.”

Mike’s life has been famously colourful. As well as being a legendary boxer he spent time in prison for rape, which is documented in his memoir. Surprisingly that wasn’t the most difficult period in his life.

“My childhood [was]. There were some horrific things there that I did not enjoy. Jail was a lot easier,” he said.

The star has described his father as a “street guy” in the past and he abandoned the family shortly after Mike was born. His mom died when he was 16, leaving the teenager in the care of his boxing manager.

One of the reasons Mike didn’t struggle in jail was because he became close to a woman while inside, previously boasting about their marathon sex sessions.

“Yeah, I had a female counsellor and we’d do it for a long time. I had some good days in there,” he admitted. Copyright: Cover Media 2013